The Burns Lake community is mourning the death of a 19-year-old man who was hit by a freight train last Friday.
The incident took place at approximately 8 p.m. in Decker Lake, about half a kilometre east of Rowland Road. According to the RCMP, initial investigation indicates that it was an accident.
The fire department, ambulance and police responded to the scene. Ryne St. Jean was rescued and taken to the Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre, but he died at the hospital.
In honour of his memory, the family has set up a bursary fund at the Bulkley Valley Credit Union to assist future graduates of Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS). St. Jean had graduated from LDSS in 2015.
The Canadian National Railway and the RCMP are now conducting the investigation. Sergeant Charlotte Peters with the Burns Lake RCMP reminds residents to never walk, play, skate or ride bikes on or around rail tracks.